Pre-boarding identification requirements

COVID-19 NOTICE

Where possible, it is the traveller’s responsibility to keep identification documents up to date. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and limited access to some provincial and territorial service centres, expired identification documents are temporarily accepted for travel within Canada.

This applies only if:

You are travelling by air
You are using domestic air carriers to travel within Canada
Your identification document was issued by a Canadian government
Your identification document expired on March 1, 2020, or after.

This temporary measure is in effect until January 31, 2021.

Domestic air travel

If you have Canadian identification

Bring one identification document issued by a Canadian federal, provincial or territorial government that includes your:

photo
full name
date of birth

If you don’t have an identification document that includes your photo, full name and date of birth:

Show two pieces of identification issued by a Canadian federal, provincial or territorial government that show your name.
One of these documents must show your full name and date of birth.

Valid identification documents issued by a Canadian government include:

Travel documents

passport
NEXUS card

Citizenship and immigration documents

citizenship card
permanent resident card
record of landing form/confirmation of rermanent residence (IMM 5292)
immigration documents issued to foreign nationals (e.g., work permit, study permit, visitor record, temporary resident permit, refugee approved status)

Provincial or territorial documents

birth certificate
driver's licence
health card
identification card

Other valid documents

Canadian military identification
Certificate of Indian Status (status card)
Federal police identification
Firearms licence
Government employee identification cards (federal or provincial)
Old Age Security (OAS) identification card

You can't use hunting, boating and fishing licences as identification for domestic flights.

If you don’t have Canadian identification

You can use a travel document you used to enter Canada:

Passport
NEXUS card
United States Permanent Resident card
Enhanced Driver’s License
any document referred to in subsection 50(1) or 52(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations

International air travel

Bring one valid identification document issued by a government authority with your:

photo
full name
date of birth
sex

Valid identification documents include:

Canadian passport
Passport issued by a country where you are a citizen
NEXUS card
any document referred to in subsection 50(1) or 52(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations

Canadian citizens should always carry a valid Canadian passport when travelling outside Canada.

Canadian travel number

If your name is the same, or similar, to that of someone on the Secure Air Travel Act list (sometimes called Canada’s “No Fly List”), you could save time by applying for a Canadian Travel Number (CTN).

More information about the CTN

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